Proverbs 2:15-22

15 men whose 1paths are crooked, 2and who are 3devious in their ways.
16 So 4you will be delivered from the forbidden[a] woman, from 5the adulteress[b] with 6her smooth words,
17 who forsakes 7the companion of her youth and forgets 8the covenant of her God;
18 9for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed;[c]
19 none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.
20 So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright 10will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it,
22 but the wicked will be 11cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be 12rooted out of it.

Proverbs 2:15-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 2

This chapter directs to the means of attaining to the knowledge of divine things, and shows the profit and advantage arising from thence. The means are, embracing the doctrines of the Gospel, and retaining in memory and affection the ordinances of it, Pr 2:1; and an inclination of the ear and an application of the heart to the knowledge of these things, Pr 2:2. An earnest and importunate desire, expressed by prayer, after the same, Pr 2:3; and a diligent and unwearied search for them, as for silver and hid treasure, Pr 2:4. The advantages are, that such shall attain to the fear and knowledge of God; which may be concluded from these being the gift of God to his people, and from their being laid up for them, whom he carefully keeps and preserves, Pr 2:5-8; and not only so, but such learn to do that which is just and right among men, Pr 2:9. And, besides, such is the nature of divine wisdom, that, when it has once got a place in the heart and in the affections, it will be a means of preserving both from the ways of evil men, Pr 2:10-12; who are described, Pr 2:13-15. And from the evil woman, whose character is given, Pr 2:16,17; whose vicious course of life, and the ways she leads persons into, are represented as very dangerous, Pr 2:18,19. And, on the contrary, such is the usefulness of true wisdom, that it leads into the way of good men, who will be happy and safe, when the wicked shall be destroyed, Pr 2:20-22.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Psalms 125:5; [Proverbs 21:8]
  • 2. Proverbs 14:2
  • 3. Proverbs 3:32
  • 4. Proverbs 7:5
  • 5. Proverbs 6:24; Proverbs 23:27
  • 6. Proverbs 6:24; Psalms 5:9
  • 7. Jeremiah 3:4; [Psalms 55:13]
  • 8. [Malachi 2:14, 15]
  • 9. Proverbs 7:27
  • 10. Proverbs 10:30
  • 11. See Psalms 37:38
  • 12. Proverbs 15:25; Deuteronomy 28:63; Psalms 52:5

Footnotes 3

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.